GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Dec 28, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - The health 
ministry in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip said Thursday at least 21,320 people 
have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war with Israel erupted 
on October 7.

Another 55,603 people have been wounded, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-
Qudra said in a televised press conference, nearly 12 weeks into the fighting 
triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel.

Qudra said at least 210 people have been killed in Gaza over the past 24 
hours "including entire families".

The health ministry in a statement also raised the alarm over the spread of 
disease among children and the overall lack of water, food and medicine in 
the besieged Strip.

"The humanitarian and health conditions of the displaced have reached 
catastrophic levels," it said.

As the fighting between Hamas militants and Israeli forces raged in the 
southern city of Khan Yunis, health officials called for medical facilities 
to be protected.

"The Israeli occupation is repeatedly targeting the vicinity of Nasser 
hospital and Al-Amal hospital, affiliated with the Palestinian Red Crescent 
Society," the health ministry said.

Earlier Thursday, the Red Crescent said it feared that the intensification of 
deadly strikes near Al-Amal hospital could be "a prelude to targeting it 
directly".

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its October 7 attack and 
officials have said the war could last months more.

The Hamas attack resulted in the death of around 1,140 people in Israel, most 
of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.